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Carnot efficiency: Why?

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  • Lucia, Umberto

Abstract

In 1824, Carnot proposed a cycle operating on reversibility principles. He proved that there exists an upper limit of the efficiency of this cycle and this limit is also the upper limit for any real process. The irreversibility related to the finite-time and the finite-size constraints are fundamental for the optimization of any real thermodynamic system. It has been pointed out how fundamental is the interaction between any open system and its surroundings. The meaning of the Carnot efficiency is that even in the ideal condition, when there is no dissipation, there exists something that does not allow the system to convert all the energies absorbed in work. The aim of this paper is to show why this happens, starting from a variational approach of thermodynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucia, Umberto, 2013. "Carnot efficiency: Why?," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(17), pages 3513-3517.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:392:y:2013:i:17:p:3513-3517
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2013.04.020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lucia, Umberto, 2013. "Entropy and exergy in irreversible renewable energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 559-564.
    2. Lucia, Umberto, 2013. "Stationary open systems: A brief review on contemporary theories on irreversibility," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(5), pages 1051-1062.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Lucia, Umberto, 2014. "Entropy generation: Minimum inside and maximum outside," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 396(C), pages 61-65.
    2. Lucia, Umberto, 2014. "Entropy generation approach to cell systems," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 406(C), pages 1-11.
    3. Lucia, Umberto, 2014. "Entropy generation and cell growth with comments for a thermodynamic anticancer approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 406(C), pages 107-118.
    4. Duan, Jin & Liu, Zhe & Wang, Xiuchen & Li, Tim Jun & Wang, Yajing, 2024. "Recent advances in skin waste heat energy harvesting wearable flexible thermo-electric and moist-electric devices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    5. Umberto Lucia & Giulia Grisolia, 2018. "Cyanobacteria and Microalgae : Thermoeconomic Considerations in Biofuel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, January.
    6. Lucia, Umberto, 2016. "Econophysics and bio-chemical engineering thermodynamics: The exergetic analysis of a municipality," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 462(C), pages 421-430.
    7. Yurdusevimli Metin, Ece & Aygün, Hakan, 2019. "Energy and power aspects of an experimental target drone engine at non-linear controller loads," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 981-993.
    8. Lucia, Umberto, 2014. "Entropy generation and the Fokker–Planck equation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 393(C), pages 256-260.
    9. Lucia, Umberto & Grisolia, Giulia, 2017. "Unavailability percentage as energy planning and economic choice parameter," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 197-204.
    10. Lucia, Umberto, 2014. "Overview on fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 164-169.
    11. Umberto Lucia, 2014. "The Gouy-Stodola Theorem in Bioenergetic Analysis of Living Systems (Irreversibility in Bioenergetics of Living Systems)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-23, September.
    12. Lucia, Umberto, 2015. "Quanta and entropy generation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 419(C), pages 115-121.
    13. Lucia, Umberto & Sciubba, Enrico, 2013. "From Lotka to the entropy generation approach," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(17), pages 3634-3639.
    14. Lucia, Umberto, 2013. "Exergy flows as bases of constructal law," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 392(24), pages 6284-6287.
    15. Lucia, Umberto & Simonetti, Marco & Chiesa, Giacomo & Grisolia, Giulia, 2017. "Ground-source pump system for heating and cooling: Review and thermodynamic approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 867-874.
    16. Lucia, Umberto, 2016. "Second law considerations on the third law: From Boltzmann and Loschmidt paradox to non equilibrium temperature," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 444(C), pages 121-128.

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